OK, i've got the beefy Polaris Sportsman, but now i would like to get a jumping machine.

Nothing need to be a super competetive racer or anything, but something with SPEED and can handle the track, jumping, dunes and still be able to tackle the mountain trails when needed.

450cc or the heavier 700cc? Also, anyone have issues with carb or fuel injected machines?

Love the fuel injected Sportsmans, but don't know if the carburetor is that different in high altitude. Does it really need to be tuned if going up a few thousand feet?

thinking about the Raptor 700 or a Kaw 450.

Thanks for all the input!!!

 

For jumping and the track, can't beat any of the crop of 450's. I like the Kawi and Suzuki for their fuel injection and riding at altitude. A few thousand feet can make a difference in a carburated machine.

 

I would go with an injected 450 if you want to jump AND don't want to mess with a carb during bigger elevation changes. A 700 Raptor may be a good choice if you are taller, like over 6'. Otherwise, the 450's are more stable and easier to jump, although they tend to ride a bit stiffer, stock, than the Raptors.

 

The 450's do better in wide open country, and the 700 does better on the trail. The reason is the 450's engines need to be ridden reved out, so when the going gets technical and slow there is a lot of miserable clutch slipping involved with a 450.

The 700 is torquey for sure so that is a + out on the trail, but I find them to be tall with a relatively high center of gravity, and yes they are a little tippy (Yamaha just can't seem to figure this one out!), and the ergonomics don't agree with me one little bit. And who in the world needs massive torque and 700 cc just to trail ride anyway???

As far as jumping and play riding, the 700 is not the hot ticket at all. It is a little top heavy as I said above, and overall it is 50+ pounds heavier than the 450's. So for me, I would take a 450 and just live with the clutch slipping when I had to ride a tight trail.

If you must have FI, the Kawi is looking pretty good, and I bet everything will have FI in a year or two.....